Everybody Was In The French Resistance....NOW! - New Bands

More highly recommended new and underground music from The Popscener.

Today's hotshots: Everybody was in the French Resistance...Now!

Any work featuring the considerable talents of Art Brut's Eddie Argos - the indie Stephen Fry - has a better than average chance of tickling the ribs whilst stimulating the ears, and this new side-project, imaginatively entitled Everybody was in the French Resistance...Now! doesn't disappoint. This effort is less garage rock and more baroque pop, and may feature the lumbering frontman's most energetic vocal yet, whilst losing none of his usual acerbic wordplay and dry charm. All of which would have made a late charge for the TOTP appearance Argos so craves a possibility had the show not been defunct for almost four years...oh well.

Try: G.I.R.L.F.R.E.N.

http://www.myspace.com/fixingthecharts

Surfer Blood - New Bands

More highly recommended new and underground music from The Popscener.

Today's hotshots: Surfer Blood

Despite a name which appears to point to some sort of anti aquatic-sports based death metal, luckily Surfer Blood are a far less scary proposition. Instead, the Florida natives present a fairly novel take on the emerging (and soon to be omnipresent) 'nu-wave' surf-rock thing, mixing 70s/80s power-pop a la Cheap Trick with the usual chirruping guitar work, doo-wop melodies and songs about, erm, surfing.

Try: Swim (to reach the end)

http://www.myspace.com/surferblood

Mixtapes and Cellmates - New Bands

More highly recommended new and underground music from The Popscener.

Today's hotshots: Mixtapes and Cellmates

Actually formed back in 2005, this Swedish quintet are now starting to make a bit of a splash. Their unfathomable name might make them sound like a bedroom-emo band, but fear not - they actually mix a driving alt-rock sound with equal parts noisey guitar squeaking and pop hooks. One Little Indian have picked them up, so based on the law of record label averages they must be at least OK.

Try: Soon

www.myspace.com/mixtapesandcellmates